Air guiding apparatus

ABSTRACT

An air guiding apparatus includes a frame, a rotating structure, and a plurality of louvers. The frame defines an opening. The rotating structure is received in the opening and rotatable relative to the frame about an axis. The plurality of louvers are attached to the rotating structure and are rotatable relative to the rotating structure about a direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the axis.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an air guiding apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

An air guiding apparatus with a plurality of louvers may be provided in in a chassis of a computer system. Each of the plurality of louvers is rotatable relative to a horizontal shaft. When the chassis is turned on its side, the shafts of the plurality of louvers are then vertical instead of horizontal, and the performance of the air guiding apparatus will be reduced.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an air guiding apparatus in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the air guiding apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but viewed from a different aspect.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a first rotating member of the air guiding apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an assembly of a first frame, the first rotating member, a block, and a plurality of rolling members of the air guiding apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an assembly of the air guiding apparatus of FIG. 1 and a plate of a chassis.

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6, but the plate has been rotated through 90 degrees.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”

FIG. 1 illustrates an air guiding apparatus of an embodiment. The air guiding apparatus comprises a frame 100, a rotating structure 300, and a plurality of louvers 40. The frame 100 defines a receiving opening 101. The rotating structure 300 is received in the receiving opening 101 and is rotatable relative to the frame 100 about an axis 400, which may be, for example, substantially horizontal. The plurality of louvers 40 are attached to the rotating structure 300 and rotatable relative to the rotating structure 300 about a first direction 500, which may be, for example, substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the axis 400.

FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, show that the rotating structure 300 comprises a first rotating member 30 and a second rotating member 50 secured to the first rotating member 30. The plurality of louvers 40 are located between the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 50.

Referring to FIGS. 4-5, the first rotating member 30 defines a plurality of first receiving slots 321. The second rotating member 50 defines a plurality of second receiving slots 531. A plurality of rolling members 60 are located between the rotating structure 300 and the frame 100 and received in the plurality of first receiving slots 321 and the plurality of second receiving slots 531.

The first rotating member 30 defines a plurality of securing slots 3521, and the plurality of louvers 40 are received in the plurality of securing slots 3521. Referring to FIG. 3, each of the plurality of louvers 40 comprises a body 41 and a shaft 43 located on the body 41. The shafts 43 of the plurality of louvers 40 are received in the plurality of securing slots 3521 (shown in FIG. 5), the body 41 of each of the plurality of louvers 40 is rotatable about the shaft 43, and the shafts 43 may be substantially parallel to the first direction 500.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first rotating member 30 comprises a first base panel 31 and a first installing portion 32, extending from the first base panel 31 along a second direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the first base panel 31. The plurality of first receiving slots 321 are defined in the first base panel 31. The first rotating member 30 further comprises a retaining portion 35 extending the first base panel 31 along a third direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the first base panel 31. The retaining portion 35 is surrounded by the first installing portion 32, and the plurality of securing slots 3521 is defined in the retaining portion 35.

The retaining portion 35 comprises two positioning walls 351, which are substantially parallel to each other and parallel to the axis 400 and the direction 500. A block 70 is secured to the positioning wall 351. Four mounting posts 315 are located on the first base panel 31 and substantially parallel to the two positioning walls 351. Two of the four mounting posts 315 are adjacent one of the two positioning walls 351, and another two of the four mounting posts 315 are adjacent another positioning wall 351. The block 70 defines two positioning slots 72 at two opposite sides of the block 70. Two of the four mounting posts 315 are received in the two positioning slots 72, adjacent to one of the two positioning walls 351. Therefore, the block 70 is mounted between two of the four mounting posts 315 (shown in FIG. 5).

The second rotating member 50 comprises a second base panel 51 and a second installing portion 53 extending from the second base panel 51 along a fourth direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the second base panel 51. The second base panel 51 abuts the retaining portion 35, to prevent the shafts 43 of the plurality of louvers 40 from moving out of the plurality of securing slots 3521 of the first rotating member 30. The second installing portion 53 defines a plurality of second receiving slots 531, corresponding to the plurality of first receiving slots 321. The rolling members 60 are also received in the plurality of second receiving slots 531.

Each of the four mounting posts 315 of the first rotating member 30 defines a fixing hole 3151 (shown in FIG. 4). The second base panel 51 of the second rotating member 50 defines four through holes 515 (shown in FIG. 2). Four first fasteners 90, such as screws, are fixed into the four through holes 515 and the fixing holes 3151 of the four mounting posts 315, to secure the first rotating member 30 to the second rotating member 50.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the first rotating member 30 defines a first holding opening 311. The second rotating member 50 defines a second holding opening 511. The first holding opening 311 and the second holding opening 511 cooperatively define a holding opening 600, which receives the plurality of louvers 40.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the frame 100 comprises a first bracket 10 and a second bracket 20, secured to the first bracket 10. The first bracket 10 comprises a first receiving portion 15, and the first receiving portion 15 defines a first receiving opening 151. The second bracket 20 comprises a second receiving portion 25, and the second receiving portion 25 defines a second receiving opening 251. The first receiving opening 151 and the second receiving opening 251 cooperatively define the receiving opening 101 of the frame 100. The plurality of rolling members 60 abuts at least one of the first receiving portion 15 and the second receiving portion 25.

The first bracket 10 comprises a plurality of hooks 131. The second bracket 20 defines a plurality of installing slots 231. The plurality of hooks 131 are engaged in the plurality of installing slots 231, to secure the first bracket 10 to the second bracket 20. The first bracket 10 further comprises a plurality of first flanges 13. The second bracket 20 further comprises a plurality of second flanges 23. The plurality of first flanges 13 abuts the plurality of second flanges 23, when the first bracket 10 is secured to the second bracket 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first bracket 10 further comprises a first main body 11, and the first receiving portion 15 extends from the main body 11. A plurality of securing posts 113 is located on the first main body 11 around the first receiving opening 151. Each of the plurality of securing posts 113 defines a locking hole 1131. The second bracket 20 further comprises a second main body 21, and the second receiving portion 25 extends from the second main body 21. A plurality of fastening hole 213 is defined in the second main body 21. A plurality of second fasteners 80, such as screws, is locked in the plurality of fastening holes 213 and the locking holes 1131 of the plurality of securing posts 113, to secure the first bracket 10 to the second bracket 20.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, the frame 100 is secured to a plate 800 of a chassis in a location, where the plate 800 defines a plurality of ventilation holes (not shown). The first main body 11 and the second main body 21 are substantially parallel to the plate 800. When airflow flows through the frame 100, the plurality of louvers 40 is rotated to open the receiving opening 101. Therefore, airflow can flow through the frame 100. When the plurality of louvers 40 are rotated to cover the receiving opening 101, the airflow is blocked from flowing through the frame 100.

Referring to FIG. 6, the frame 100 is located in a first position, where the shaft 43 or the direction 500 is horizontal. Referring to FIG. 7, the frame 100 is turned 90 degrees from the first position to a second position along a fifth direction A or B. Because the block 70 is secured to first rotating member 30, a weight of the low part of the rotating structure 300 is always greater and the block 70 will always seek the lowest point. Therefore, the rotating structure 300 will rotate to always position the shaft 43 or the direction 500 in a horizontal orientation.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An air guiding apparatus comprising: a frame, the frame defining a receiving opening; and a rotating structure, the rotating structure received in the receiving opening and rotatable relative to the frame about an axis; a plurality of louvers, each of the plurality of louvers attached to the rotating structure and rotatable relative to the rotating structure about a direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the axis.
 2. The air guiding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotating structure comprises a first rotating member and a second rotating member secured to the first rotating member, and the plurality of louvers is located between the first rotating member and the second rotating member.
 3. The air guiding apparatus of claim 2, wherein one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member defines a plurality of receiving slots, and a plurality of rolling members are received in the plurality of receiving slots and located between the rotating structure and the frame.
 4. The air guiding apparatus of claim 3, wherein one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member defines a plurality of securing slots, and the plurality of louvers are received in the plurality of securing slots.
 5. The air guiding apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first rotating member comprises a first base panel and a first installing portion extending from the first base panel, and the plurality of receiving slots are defined in the first installing portion.
 6. The air guiding apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first rotating member further comprises a retaining portion extending the first base panel, the retaining portion is surrounded by the first installing portion, and the plurality of securing slots are defined in the retaining portion.
 7. The air guiding apparatus of claim 6, wherein the retaining portion comprises a positioning wall, which is substantially parallel to the axis and the direction, and a block is secured to the positioning wall.
 8. The air guiding apparatus of claim 7, wherein two mounting posts are located on the first base panel and substantially parallel to the positioning wall, and the block is mounted between the two mounting posts.
 9. The air guiding apparatus of claim 3, wherein the frame comprises a first bracket and a second bracket secured to the first bracket, the first bracket comprises a first receiving portion, the first receiving portion defines a first receiving opening, the second bracket comprises a second receiving portion, the second receiving portion defines a second receiving opening, the first receiving opening and the second receiving opening cooperatively define the receiving opening of the frame, and the plurality of rolling members abuts at least one of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion.
 10. The air guiding apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first bracket comprises a plurality of hooks, the second bracket defines a plurality of installing slots, and the plurality of hooks are engaged in the plurality of installing slots.
 11. An air guiding apparatus comprising: a frame, the frame defining a receiving opening; and a rotating structure, the rotating structure received in the receiving opening and rotatable relative to the frame; a plurality of louvers, the plurality of louvers attached to the rotating structure, each of the plurality of louvers comprise a body and a shaft extending from the body; wherein when the frame is a first position, each shaft of the plurality of louvers is substantially horizontal orientation; when the frame is turn from the first position to a second position in 90 degrees, the rotating structure is rotated relative to the frame to have each shaft of the plurality of louvers in substantially horizontal orientation.
 12. The air guiding apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rotating structure comprises a first rotating member and a second rotating member secured to the first rotating member, and the plurality of louvers is located between the first rotating member and the second rotating member.
 13. The air guiding apparatus of claim 12, wherein one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member defines a plurality of receiving slots, and a plurality of rolling members are received in the plurality of receiving slots and located between the rotating structure and the frame.
 14. The air guiding apparatus of claim 13, wherein one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member defines a plurality of securing slots, and the plurality of louvers are received in the plurality of securing slots.
 15. The air guiding apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first rotating member comprises a first base panel and a first installing portion extending from the first base panel, and the plurality of receiving slots are defined in the first installing portion.
 16. The air guiding apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first rotating member further comprises a retaining portion extending the first base panel, the retaining portion is surrounded by the first installing portion, and the plurality of securing slots are defined in the retaining portion.
 17. The air guiding apparatus of claim 16, wherein the retaining portion comprises a positioning wall, which is substantially parallel to the shafts of the plurality of louvers, and a block is secured to the positioning wall.
 18. The air guiding apparatus of claim 17, wherein two mounting posts are located on the first base panel and substantially parallel to the positioning wall, and the block is mounted between the two mounting posts.
 19. The air guiding apparatus of claim 13, wherein the frame comprises a first bracket and a second bracket secured to the first bracket, the first bracket comprises a first receiving portion, the first receiving portion defines a first receiving opening, the second bracket comprises a second receiving portion, the second receiving portion defines a second receiving opening, the first receiving opening and the second receiving opening cooperatively define the receiving opening of the frame, and the plurality of rolling members abuts at least one of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion.
 20. The air guiding apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first bracket comprises a plurality of hooks, the second bracket defines a plurality of installing slots, the plurality of hooks are engaged in the plurality of installing slots. 